Silvia Caballero, Intern

On Friday, September 18, over 90 undergraduate students braved the pouring rain to attend the annual Pre-Law Symposium at BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. Hosted by the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion (UCLI) and Kirton McConkie, the event offered prospective law students a chance to learn about the application process, explore legal careers, and connect with others considering law school.

The day began with a warm kolache breakfast and a welcome from volunteers at registration. UCLI Associate Director Sabrina Ruiz-Monroy and PLEDGE Committee Co-Chair Geidy Achecar opened the Symposium with an overview of the path to law school. Geidy also offered encouragement to non-traditional students, reminding attendees that there is room in the legal profession for people with a wide range of experiences.

Next was a law school admissions panel with BYU Law Admissions Director Andrea Fitzgerald and S.J. Quinney College of Law Administration Program Coordinator Sam Nyborg, moderated by UCLI Fall 2026 intern Jacen Call. They shared practical guidance on application timelines, personal statements, recommendation letters, scholarships, and what students can expect after submitting their applications.

Attendees also heard from attorneys practicing in different areas of law. Moderated by Jascha Clark, a shareholder at Parr Brown Gee & Loveless, the panel featured Abby Dizon-Maughan with Parsons Behle & Latimer, Jesse Nix with Nix Law, and Melinda Bowen with Spencer Fane. The panelists reflected on their law school experiences, changes in their career interests, realities of legal practice, and how they manage their professional and personal lives. Their candid perspectives helped students picture the many paths a legal career can take.

The Symposium also offered breakout sessions that are tailored to students’ interests. Workshops included financial resources for law school from AccessLex Institute’s Regional Director Zachary Smith and LSAT preparation from founder and instructor of ACE Test Preparation, Brent Dunn. Later on, a mock law class was taught by BYU professor of law, Lucy Williams, giving attendees a glimpse of a law school classroom. BYU Preprofessional Advisement Director Kris Tina Carlston also presented on how to craft a compelling personal statement for law school applications.

The Symposium concluded with a panel of current law students from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. UCLI’s Fall 2026 intern Cate Carson, moderated the panel, and law students shared their personal paths to law school, advice about submitting law school applications, and reflections on their experiences as students.

We are grateful to the speakers, law students, professionals, and volunteers who shared their time and knowledge with prospective students. Their efforts helped make the path to law school feel more accessible, reflecting UCLI’s commitment to supporting future legal professionals.

We want to thank our event sponsors: Kirton McConkie, Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, AccessLex Institute and Helix Bar Review, ACE Test Preparation, and the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, and all UCLI Sustaining Sponsors, who can be viewed here.

For prospective law students who could not attend this year, please note that the Pre-Law Symposium is held each year in the fall, and we hope to see you at the next one. However, the search does not have to wait, as the UCLI website offers a variety of resources, programs, and opportunities to help explore and prepare for a legal career. Applications for the UCLI Pre-Law Fellowship are currently open and accepting applications through November 29, 2026. Students interested in gaining mentorship, professional development, and hands-on experience are encouraged to learn more and apply.

We also recommend listening to Season One of UCLI’s original podcast, The UCLI Legal Lounge, to hear more from legal professionals and academic personnel.

On Friday, August 14, 2026, UCLI held its seventh Pre-Law Fellowship Seminar at Parsons Behle & Latimer, who graciously welcomed us for the day. This seminar focused on personal statements, diversity statements, other application essays, and the law school admissions process. 

Paula Gluzman from Spivey Consulting joined us for a detailed workshop and presentation on law school personal statements and other essays. Her presentation was full of valuable guidance on what these essays should look and sound like, with significant emphasis on dimension, authenticity, and strong writing. One message especially stood out: “Create an opportunity for them to connect with you.” Throughout the session, she emphasized the importance of essays that are not only well-written, but also authentic and reflective of your own voice.

Victoria Roberts, a 2024 UCLI Pre-Law Fellow, is now approaching her 2L year at the University of Kansas. She shared her law school journey and the personal statement she used to apply to law school. Victoria walked us through her writing process and what it was like working with Paula, from brainstorming to narrowing her ideas into a final direction. She also described how challenging it can be to revisit personal details within the story being told. Fellows saw the depth and vulnerability of her essay, and how Victoria shaped a difficult life experience into an opportunity to demonstrate how that experience would make her a better attorney.

Fellows then met with Paula, Victoria, and other attorneys currently working with Parsons Behle & Latimer, where they received constructive feedback on their personal statements and the opportunity to discuss their writing one-on-one.

Following lunch, Judge Augustus Chin graciously joined us to share his experience as a judge. A University of Utah graduate, he described his nontraditional path to law school, beginning at age thirty-two with two children. Judge Chin offered insightful advice on building a fulfilling legal career and serving as a judge. He shared how meaningful his experience as a law clerk for Judge Medley was. In that role, he felt honored to be placed in a position of trust, and it was there that he began his journey toward becoming a judge. Throughout his talk, Judge Chin highlighted qualities important to the legal profession, including respect, balancing ego, collegiality, and vicarious learning. As he plans to retire in six years, he was asked, “What do you want your legacy to be when you retire?” His answer was simple: “He was fair, he was honest, and he was a good judge.”

Last, but definitely not least, our final speaker of the day was Anthony Grover, the Dean of Admissions at BYU Law, where he also oversees the Trial Advocacy Program. The J. Reuben Clark School of Law is currently ranked No. 24 in the nation, and Dean Grover noted that BYU’s median LSAT and GPA have been steadily increasing. Dean Grover reviewed the admissions process and highlighted elements that are especially important to BYU, including the reality of “LSAT inflation.” He shared what can make an application stand out: academic excellence, strong letters of recommendation, character, and how an applicant will contribute to the law school community.

Current Fellows Asia Reid and Maximus Garcia-Olazabal brought a celebratory cake for everyone who took the August LSAT. Thank you to them, and congratulations, to everyone who took the test! It was a fitting way to end a day centered on the next steps toward law school. We also extend our thanks to the mentors, volunteers, presenters, and attorneys who made this seminar possible.